
In an intense 21st round, Beirut Club confirmed its superiority over La Sagesse, while Champville rolled over Hrajel with an offensive performance tailor-made for the play-offs.
At the Chiyah arena, Beirut Club once again took down La Sagesse. After a first-leg win in Ghazir (93-84), Jad el-Hajj’s men did it again at home, winning 90-86 in an electric atmosphere in front of a thousand fans. A victory that guarantees the Beirut Club second place in the overall standings.
Beirut Club Doesn’t Flinch
Dominant in commitment, the hosts won three of the four quarters (29-24, 16-13, 20-21, 25-18) by showing off their accuracy from the free-throw line (29/36), despite a disastrous night from behind the arc (only 1/15).
Thomas Wimbush dropped 24 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, while Joseph Young (21 pts, 3 ast) and Sergio el-Darwich (17 pts, 6 rbs) handled the scoring. Ali Haidar and Kenneth Kadji completed the starting five with 10 points each.
Meanwhile, La Sagesse showed great promise despite the defeat, notably thanks to its French recruit Sekou Doumbouya (27 pts, 9 rbs, 3 ast), who made a strong impression in his debut. Zach Lofton (21 pts, 6 ast), Omar Jamaleddine (14 pts, 9 rbs) and Marc Khoury (10 pts) completed the scoring.
The numbers reflect a balanced match: 38 rebounds for the Greens versus 39 for Beirut Club, 20 assists against 19. But above all, a fatal 5/32 from beyond the arc for Linos Gavriel’s men, which cost them dearly.
Champville in Steamroller Mode
In Dik el-Mehdi, Champville delivered a top-tier collective performance to its fans by steamrolling Hrajel 115-97. Despite a missed first quarter (25-31), Javin Blake’s teammates then rolled (37-21, 26-21, 27-24) to win without flinching and secure 7th place in the standings.
The show was ensured by an infernal trio: Matthew Mobley (29 pts), Henry Sims (24 pts, 10 rbs, 4 ast) and especially Javion Blake, author of a near triple-double (27 pts, 5 rbs, 16 ast, 3 steals). Karim Ezzedine (13 pts, 9 rbs, 5 ast) and Rayan Zantout (13 pts) perfectly rounded out the performance.
The collective effort shone: 31 assists, 18 three-pointers made out of 33 attempted, 13/15 free throws and only 5 turnovers. Enough to make any opponent blush.
Hrajel, although valiant, did not disgrace itself. Unique McLean (26 pts, 6 rbs, 4 ast) and Marwan Ziyada (18 pts, 9 rbs) tried to keep the boat afloat, well-supported by Georges Yves Daaboul (16 pts, 12 ast) and Nikola Slover (16 pts). But the 10 turnovers and lack of defensive stops sealed their fate.
The Heat Before the Thrill
With one round left before the end of the regular season, positions are becoming clearer, matchups are tightening and dynamics are shaping up. Beirut Club is sending a clear message: it will have to be reckoned with until the end. La Sagesse, meanwhile, is testing its new weapons before the play-off war. As for Champville, better not meet them in June: when the engine heats up, it burns the nets.
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